The Rev’d Canon Richard Bartlett, USPG’s Director of Mission Engagement, is leaving the organisation to take up the post of Vicar of West Purbeck in the Diocese of Salisbury.
He says, ‘I am really excited to be returning to the Diocese of Salisbury where I was ordained 27 years ago. Much of my time since then has been shaped and formed by USPG: as a missionary in Brazil, as a member of the Board of Trustees of USPG, and for the past six years as Director of Mission Engagement. It has been a privilege to engage with partners from all over the world, to learn about God’s mission from them and to have shared those lessons with churches in Britain and Ireland. It is with a wealth of rich experiences gained from my time at USPG that I look forward to returning to parish ministry as Vicar of the West Purbeck Benefice in Dorset: a beautiful place with people I look forward to sharing in mission and ministry with.’
Rev’d Dr Duncan Dormor, USPG’s General Secretary, adds, ‘Richard has been an invaluable part of our team at USPG, both over the last six years, as a Trustee and through his time in Brazil. He is a much loved member of the USPG family and we wish him all the best for his return to parish ministry.’
As USPG says goodbye to Richard, the Diocese of Salisbury offers its welcome. The Ven. Antony MacRow-Wood, Archdeacon of Dorset, says, ‘We are delighted Richard is joining us to be incumbent of the newly formed West Purbeck Benefice. His previous experience and recent role as Director of Mission Engagement for USPG will stand him in good stead to lead these parishes as they develop their life together and work out how to be intentionally missional in this beautiful part of Dorset.’
Richard served as Director of Mission Engagement from 2016 to 2022. He first encountered USPG when he went on placement to Ghana as an ordinand in the early 1990s. Before taking up his role at USPG, Richard was a parish priest and school chaplain.